WITH its stylish living room and stunning countryside views, this property looks like it would be out of reach for most first-time buyers.

    But the two-story cabin was built for just £1,000 (US$1,535) by a resourceful young couple who were frustrated with paying rent and soaring house prices.

    Using recycled materials and their own skills, Christian Montez, 29, and Kyra Powell, 28, constructed the rural retreat on the outskirts of Hereford, Britain.

    Measuring 4.8 meters by 2.4 meters and standing 3.6 meters tall, the compact house boasts a double bedroom, lounge, and even an office.

    The couple made the walls and floors out of recycled wooden panels and scavenged scrap yards for material to build the furniture. They even built a porthole window from an old washing machine door.

    Montez said, “We raised money through skills exchange and working for materials. The materials for the insulated panels cost around £600, the windows were free and the doors were from my Nana’s house.

    “The total cost was just under £1,000. Of course we had a few favors from friends and family, too. Everything else was either recycled, scavenged or found. Our personal favorite was the window made from a washing machine.”

    The young couple embarked on the project after they returned to Hereford last year and quickly became fed-up with paying out hundreds of pounds a month in rent while desperately trying to save for a deposit for their first home.

    But with average property prices for a two-bedroom home in the city starting at £190,000, Montez — who completed a master’s degree in architecture — and Powell — who studied at the National School of Furniture — decided to use their skills to build their own house.

    They built the property in the grounds of Powell’s parents’ 60-acre (24-hectare) farm on the outskirts of Hereford, and will live there as they continue to put money towards buying their own place.

    The couple do not need planning permission as it is not officially classed as a dwelling. It is moved to a different position on the land every 28 days to comply with existing planning laws.

    They initially used a trailer for the basic design in February, and Montez then created a flat-pack panel system that was assembled over a weekend in May. It then took a further nine weeks to finish the build.

    Montez said, “In Hereford the cost of houses is quite high when you consider the wages people have. The average price for a two-bedroom house is about £190,000 and when you’ve been renting, you see your savings dwindle away.”(SD-Agencies)